What makes Indonesia, Indahnesia?

It’s pretty funny that lately, I don’t feel ashamed about my country of origin for its bad reputation for many stupid and chaotic things inside the country. Well, at least I don’t feel it as strong as I did. I also find it amazing that I can stand out all of sudden after I mentioned where did I come from and somehow from the way I look, people have always mistakenly thought that I came either from Japan.

Of course, after they knew, I still have to explain bout why do I’ve a different look than the majority of people in my country...and bring them to another story how my great grandparents came from another country. Long story short, after they knew, they give almost the same comments: “Ohh... it’s a pretty country, it’s very beautiful... You know, I’ve been there”. Or, “Really? Wow... that’s cool... I heard a lot about your country, I wish I can go there someday”...

I was born and grew up in Surabaya – Indonesia. As my other family, once we were part of the Indo-European community in Surabaya, which however does not necessarily make all my European ancestors from Dutch origin at all.

There are a lot of things to tell about Indonesia. Indonesia to me is, every morning woken by the unique sounds of “azan sholat subuh” (call to early morning prayer), cockcrowing, food sellers selling “roti” (bread) and other goodies, and the noisy of varied vehicles. Living in Indonesia you would never feel alone, you would be surrounded by relatives, friends, and neighbours. You would feel loved, needed, and cared for. People might ask a bit more than they need to know about you, but it’s just a way of “basa basi” (socializing).

Indonesian people are mostly warm and friendly and they are very easy to communicate with unless they can not speak English (the young people usually can speak simple English) or if not they will try to explain you in their own way which sometime it become a funny things to them and they laugh of it.

In suburbs where houses are built pretty close to each other, you can see mothers and young people hang out together in front of the house. They can talk about anything, from soap opera in television, recipes, family problems to politics. It’s culturally acceptable for neighbour to pop in at their house before they go off to the shop and have some lunch or coffee.

Another unique example will be trusting their kids to their neighbours while parents are going to work. There is childcare but for the most Indonesian people the price is not affordable.

I remember when people are getting married, they normally will have celebration in their house. Their neighbours will normally feel obligated to help them out. For instance, they can take part in decorating house, preparing food, and other things. People who are attending the wedding is normally in huge number. It ranges from 300 to 1000 people, depending on how big their budget is. Imagine that these things are not common in Westerner countries.

Indonesia is a big country and a rich one, with its abundant natural resources. Indonesia has always been a very important country for all of us because is one of the most populous countries in the world and it plays an important role in Asian politics. Those things make Indonesia potential to be the superpower country in the future.

The country has been encountering so many complicated problems. Riots, rebel, poverty, disaster (Tsunamis, earthquakes, land slides etc), lack of education for the Indonesian people, disease (bird flu) and the corruption in the departments and the abuse of power that caused the problem. There’re lots of things needed to solve forward...

But, it’s a beautiful country... And I know... one day, I’ll be back…